§ Mr. Spenceasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will advertise in the local Press circulating in the Thirsk and Malton constituency that the payment dates for hill cow subsidy and for beef cow subsidy are now 1st January 1975 and 31st January 1975, respectively, and the dates by which producers should submit their claims if they are to benefit.
§ Mr. BishopThe proposed new qualifying date is 1st January for both the beef and hill cow subsidies. This will enable the 1975 subsidies to be paid this winter in addition to those made for 1974 and provide hill cow and beef cow producers with a further £24.50 and £11 a cow respectively to improve their cash flow. Between now and 1st January next my Department will undertake publicity reminding farmers of the new arrangements and of the need to send in their claims as soon as possible in the New Year in order to expedite payments.